Separation duct having longitudinal spacers

ABSTRACT

A separation duct for encompassing an elongate member. The duct includes longitudinal internal spacers extend longitudinally in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the duct. A longitudinal plane for each spacer is substantially parallel to the longitudinal plane of the other spacers. The spacers support the elongate member and resist slippage of the duct relative to the elongate member. The duct may be used to provide separation and protection for elongate members of a range of outside dimensions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/410,084, filed Oct. 19, 2016, theteachings of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a separation ducts having longitudinalspacers for receiving elongate members and separating the elongatemember from other structures.

BACKGROUND

Elongate members such as optical or electrical cable, pipelines, risersused in hydrocarbon extraction, etc., particularly but not exclusivelythose deployed underwater, are often positioned adjacent otherstructures such as other elongate members, buildings, rock formations,etc. There is often a need to provide physical separation between theelongate members and the other structures to protect the elongate memberand/or the other structures from damage. For example, in the case of anundersea optical cable the cable may cross over an undersea oil or gaspipeline. To avoid damage to the cable and/or the pipeline, the cable isoften encompassed within a separation duct. The separation ductestablishes a separation distance between the cable and the pipeline andmay be formed of a material that will not damage the pipeline in theevent of contact between the pipeline and the separation duct. Oneexample of such a separation duct is described in U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. US2007/0051419, the teachings of which arehereby incorporated herein by reference.

One challenge associated with known separation duct configurations isthat there has been a need match the internal dimensions of theseparation duct with the external dimensions of the elongate member tobe received thereby. If the separation duct is too large compared to thecable, the separation duct may not properly grip the cable and may slipalong the length thereof to an undesirable position. If the separationduct is too small, it may not fit around the cable. These problems areexacerbated when, for example, an elongate member and separation ductare deployed via a ship at sea and the ship has been mistakenly loadedwith separation duct of an incorrect size. In such a case, the ship maybe required to return to port to obtain a correct size of separationduct and then return to the location where the elongate member is to bedeployed. This can result in significant delays and cost increasesassociated with deployment of the elongate member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference should be made to the following detailed description whichshould be read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein likenumerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a separation duct consistent with the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a bottom portion of a separation duct consistentwith the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one segment of a separation ductconsistent with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is sectional view of one segment of the separation ductconsistent with the present disclosure taken along lines IV-IV in FIG.1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a separation duct consistent with thepresent disclosure enclosing an elongate member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, a separation duct consistent with the present disclosureincludes a plurality of longitudinal internal spacers extending inwardlyaway from an inner surface at intervals along a length of the duct. Thelongitudinal internal spacers extend longitudinally in a direction of alongitudinal axis of the duct. A longitudinal plane associated with eachof the spacers is substantially parallel with a longitudinal planeassociated with the other ones of the spacers. The longitudinal planeassociated with each of the spacers is a plane extending along a lengthof the spacer and through a top and bottom of the spacer.

Advantageously, the longitudinal spacers support the elongate membercentrally within an internal cavity of the separation duct and separatethe elongate member from the exterior surface of the duct by a desireddistance. This separation is useful in avoiding damage to the elongatemember and/or other adjacent structures. Contact between the spacers andthe elongate member along the length of the spacers also providesfrictional resistance to slippage between the duct and the elongatemember. Advantageously, a separation duct consistent with the presentdisclosure may be used to encompass elongate members of differentoutside diameters. This substantially avoids difficulties associatedwith providing incorrectly sized separation duct for use with aparticular elongate member.

FIG. 1 is a side view of one example of a separation duct 100 consistentwith the present disclosure. The illustrated embodiment includes aplurality of separation duct segments 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, 102-4, 102-5and 104-1, 104-2, 104-3, 104-4, 104-5 coupled to form a duct 100 with anexterior surface 106, an interior surface 108, a central cavity 110 anda longitudinal axis A1. Although embodiments illustrated herein may bedescribed in connection with a duct formed of separation duct segments,a separation duct consistent with the present disclosure may be providedin other configurations, such as a split tube.

In the illustrated embodiment, the separation duct segments 102-1,102-2, 102-3, 102-4, 102-5 and 104-1, 104-2, 104-3, 104-4, 104-5 haveidentical configurations. Each separation duct segment may be a unitarymolding formed of an elastomeric material, such as polyurethane. In theillustrated embodiment, each of a first group of the separation ductsegments 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, 102-4, 102-5 is positioned in opposedfacing relationship to an associated one of a second group 104-1, 104-2,104-3, 104-4, 104-5 of the separation duct segments to define thecentral cavity 110 in which the elongate member is disposed. Theseparation duct members are coupled to each other by tension bands, e.g.tension band 112, provided at reduced external dimension areas, e.g.area 114.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the separation duct segments 102-1, 102-2,102-3, 102-4, shown in FIG. 1 (i.e. with the separation duct segments104-1, 104-2, 104-3, 104-4, in FIG. 1 removed). Each separation ductsegment, e.g. segment 102-1, includes an elongate body 202 having afirst end 204 and a second end 206. In the illustrated exemplaryembodiment, the first end 204 defines a spigot formed as a reducedexternal diameter portion of the elongate body 202 and the second end206 defines a socket formed of an increased internal diameter portion ofthe elongate body 202. Axially adjacent separation duct segments, e.g.segments 102-1 and 102-2, engage with each other by a mating connectionof the spigot of one separation duct segment matingly engaged with thesocket of the axially adjacent separation duct segment.

The first end 204 of the elongate body 202 includes a plurality ofresiliently deformable longitudinal spacers 208. When separation ductsegments are disposed in opposed facing relationship, e.g. as shown inFIG. 1, longitudinal spacers 208 of the opposing ones of the separationduct segments are in opposed facing relation to each other at the educedexternal diameter areas, e.g. area 114 (FIG. 1), at intervals along thelength of the duct 100 (FIG. 1). The tension bands, e.g. band 114 (FIG.1), compress the longitudinal spacers 208 against an elongate member.

Although the illustrated exemplary embodiment includes a plurality ofseparation duct segments, each having a single set of spacers at one endthereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that anynumber of sets of spacers may be provided along the length of aseparation duct segment consistent with the present disclosure. Thespacers may be placed at any interval along the length of the segment atlocations of reduced diameter. A tension band may be placed at eachsection of reduced diameter to compress the spacers against an elongatemember. The separation duct segments positioned on either side of theelongate member may have identical configurations and the segments onone side may overlap the segments on the other side by 50%. The sets ofspacers in each segment are however provided in opposed facingrelationship to each other along the length of a duct consistent withthe present disclosure so that the tension bands compress spacers ontoopposite sides of the elongate member.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of one example of a separation duct segment102 consistent with the present disclosure. The segment includes anelongate body 202 with an exterior surface 304 and an inner surface 306that are bridged at ends thereof by associated mating faces 308, 310. Inthe illustrated exemplary embodiment, the segment 102 is generallysemi-annular in shape with a convex semi-circular exterior surface 304and a convex semi-circular inner surface 306 and the mating faces 308,310 lying in a common plane. The terms “semi-annular” and“semi-circular” as used herein refers to any portion of an annular orcircular shape, respectively. Those of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize the outer 304 and inner 306 surfaces need not be semi-circularand may take different shapes with various features thereon. Also, themating faces 308, 310 need not lie in the same plane.

Each separation duct segment 102 may include a projection 312 on onemating face 310 thereof and a recess 314 on the opposite mating face 308thereof. The projection 312 and recess 314 may mate with a correspondingprojection and recess of a separation duct segment positioned in opposedfacing relationship to align the separation duct segments and restrictrelative axial motion of the segments.

The example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 includes eight (8)longitudinal spacers 208-1 . . . 208-8 at the end 204 of the elongatebody 202. The longitudinal spacers 208-1 . . . 208-8 each have a bottomat the inner surface 306 of the elongate body 202 and a top spaced fromthe inner surface 306 such that the spacers 208-1 . . . 208-8 projectinwardly from the inner surface 306. With reference also to FIG. 4, thespacer 208-8 for example has a bottom 402 and a top 404. The spacers208-1 . . . 208-8 have a first end positioned adjacent a first end 204of the body 202 and extend longitudinally in the direction of a centralaxis A2 of the elongate body 202 toward a second end. The spacer 208-3,for example has a first end 318 and a second end 320. The first end ofthe spacers 208-1 . . . 208-8 may be positioned flush with an end face322 of the elongate body 202 or may be spaced therefrom.

The spacers 208-1 . . . 208-8 have a length measured in the direction ofa central axis A2 of the elongate body 202 from the first end of thespacer to the second end of the spacer that is longer than their widthmeasured in a direction transverse to the central axis A2 of theelongate body 202. The spacers have a height measured from the innersurface 306 in a direction from the bottom to the top of the spacer.

The length of the spacers 208-1 . . . 208-8 may be chosen to providedesired support for an elongate member and desired contact with theelongate member to avoid slippage of the elongate member. The width andheight of the spacers 208-1 . . . 208-8 may be chosen such that elongatemembers of a range of external dimension may be supported by the spacers208-1 . . . 208-8 with the elongate member being positionedsubstantially centrally within the cavity 110 (FIG. 1) formed by thesegments. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the spacers 208-1 . .. 208-8 are generally triangular in shape and narrow in width from thebottom to the top. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognizethat other shapes for the spacers are possible. Also, in the illustratedembodiment, the spacers 208-1 . . . 208-8 closest to the respectivemating faces 308, 310 have a height greater than the spacers 208-1 . . .208-8 furthest from the respective mating faces 308, 310 and the spacers208-1 . . . 208-8 do not extend inwardly beyond the mating faces 308,310. This configuration helps to center the elongate member within thecavity 110 (FIG. 1).

The spacers 208-1 . . . 208-8 may be positioned on either side of thecentral axis A2 and may cover only about 40-50% of distance along theinner surface 306 between the mating faces 308, 310. The remainder ofthe inner surface 306 on each side of the central axis A2 may be freefrom spacers.

A longitudinal plane associated with each of the spacers 208-1 . . .208-8 is substantially parallel with a longitudinal plane associatedwith the other ones of the spacers 208-1 . . . 208-8, i.e. not all ofthe spacers 208-1 . . . 208-8 extend in a direction that is normal tothe inner surface 306. The longitudinal plane associated with each ofthe spacers 208-1 . . . 208-8 is a plane extending along a length of thespacer and through a top and bottom of the spacer, and may bisect thespacer. The spacer 208-1, for example, has a longitudinal plane in whichthe lines L1 and L2 lie, and the spacer 208-2 has a longitudinal planein which the lines L3 and L4 lie. The longitudinal planes for thespacers 208-1, 208-2 are substantially parallel to each other when anelongate member is not supported thereby. With this configuration, thespacers 208-1 . . . 208-8 deflect when compressed against an elongatemember to centrally support the elongate member within the cavity 110(FIG. 1) and to provide a frictional resistance against sliding movementbetween the elongate member and the duct thereby avoiding repositioningof the duct relative to the elongate member.

FIG. 5, for example, is a sectional view of a duct 100 consistent withthe present disclosure with an elongate member 502 disposed within acavity 110 defined by separation duct segments 102, 104 consistent withthe present disclosure. As shown, when the separation duct segments 102,104 are compressed against the elongate member, the spacers 208A on thetop segment 104 and the spacers 208B on the bottom segment 102 deflectand substantially center the elongate member 502 within the cavity 110.Advantageously, the spacers 208A, 208B may be configured to deflect andcentrally support elongate members 502 of different outside dimensions.For example, larger diameter elongate members 502 may cause greaterdeflection of the spacers 208A, 208B, whereas smaller diameter elongatemembers 502 may cause relatively less deflection of the spacers 208A,208B. With elongate members 502 of different dimensions the deflectionof the spacers 208A, 208B against the elongate member 502 along thelength of the spacers centrally supports the elongate member 502 whileproviding frictional resistance against slippage of the elongate member502 relative to the separation duct segments 102, 104.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided aseparation duct segment configured to be combined with at least oneadditional separation duct segment for encompassing an elongate member.The separation duct segment includes an elongate body having an outersurface an inner surface, the outer surface and the inner surface beingbridged at ends thereof by associated mating faces. A plurality ofspacers extend inwardly away from the inner surface and extendlongitudinally from a location adjacent a first end of the elongate bodyin a direction toward a second end of the elongate body. A longitudinalplane associated with each of the spacers is substantially parallel witha longitudinal plane associated with the other ones of the spacers, thelongitudinal plane associated with each of the spacers being a planeextending along a length of the spacer and through a top and bottom ofthe spacer.

According to another aspect of the disclosure there is provided aseparation duct segment configured to be combined with at least oneadditional separation duct segment for encompassing an elongate member.The separation duct segment includes an elongate body having asemi-annular cross-section with a convex semi-circular outer surface anda concave semi-circular inner surface, the outer surface and the innersurface being bridged at ends thereof by associated mating faces. Aplurality of spacers extend inwardly away from the inner surface andextend longitudinally from a location adjacent a first end of theelongate in a direction toward a second end of the elongate body. Thespacers are resiliently deformable and a first one of the spacersclosest to one of the associated mating faces has a height greater thansecond one of the spacers furthest from the one of the associated matingfaces. A longitudinal plane associated with each of the spacers issubstantially parallel with a longitudinal plane associated with theother ones of the spacers, the longitudinal plane associated with eachof the spacers being a plane bisecting the spacer and extending along alength of the spacer and through a top and bottom of the spacer.

According to another aspect of the disclosure there is provided aseparation duct for encompassing an elongate member. The separation ductincludes an outer surface, an inner surface and a central cavity. Aplurality of spacers extend inwardly away from the inner surface atintervals along a length of the duct, and extend longitudinally in adirection of a longitudinal axis of the duct. A longitudinal planeassociated with each of the spacers is substantially parallel with alongitudinal plane associated with the other ones of the spacers, thelongitudinal plane associated with each of the spacers being a planeextending along a length of the spacer and through a top and bottom ofthe spacer.

Unless otherwise stated, use of the word “substantially” may beconstrued to include a precise relationship, condition, arrangement,orientation, and/or other characteristic, and deviations thereof asunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art, to the extent that suchdeviations do not materially affect the disclosed methods and systems.The terms “connected” or “coupled” as used herein is a relative term anddoes not require a direct physical connection unless otherwise statedherein.

Although the terms “first,” “second,” “third” etc. may be used todescribe various elements, components and/or sections, these elements,components and/or sections are not to be limited by these terms as theyare used only to distinguish one element, component or section fromanother element, component or section. Thus, a first element, componentor section could be termed a second element, component or sectionwithout departing from the scope and teachings of the presentdisclosure.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” below,” upper,” “lower,”“above” and the like may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the drawings. These spatially relativeterms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device inuse or operation in addition to the orientation shown in the drawings.For example, if the device in the drawings is turned over, elementsdescribed as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would thenbe oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, for example,the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of aboveand below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees orat other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors usedherein interpreted accordingly.

While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it isto be understood by those skilled in the art that this description ismade only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope ofthe invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope ofthe present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown anddescribed herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinaryskill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the presentinvention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A separation duct segment configured to becombined with at least one additional separation duct segment forencompassing an elongate member, the separation duct segment comprising:an elongate body having an outer surface an inner surface, the outersurface and the inner surface being bridged at ends thereof byassociated mating faces; and a plurality of spacers extending inwardlyaway from the inner surface and extending longitudinally from a locationadjacent a first end of the elongate body in a direction toward a secondend of the elongate body, wherein a longitudinal plane associated witheach of the spacers is substantially parallel with a longitudinal planeassociated with the other ones of the spacers, the longitudinal planeassociated with each of the spacers being a plane extending along alength of the spacer and through a top and bottom of the spacer.
 2. Aseparation duct segment according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinalplane associated with each of the spacers bisects the spacer.
 3. Aseparation duct segment according to claim 1, wherein the spacers havedifferent heights.
 4. A separation duct segment according to claim 1,wherein first one of the spacers closest to one of the associated matingfaces has a height greater than second one of the spacers furthest fromthe one of the associated mating faces.
 5. A separation duct segmentaccording to claim 1, wherein the spacers do not extend inwardly beyondthe mating faces.
 6. A separation duct segment according to claim 1,wherein an end surface of each of the spacers is flush with an endsurface of the elongate body.
 7. A separation duct segment according toclaim 1, wherein the spacers are resiliently deformable.
 8. A separationduct segment according to claim 1, wherein the spacers have a generallytriangular shape.
 9. A separation duct segment configured to be combinedwith at least one additional separation duct segment for encompassing anelongate member, the separation duct segment comprising: an elongatebody having an semi-annular cross-section with a convex semi-circularouter surface and a concave semi-circular inner surface, the outersurface and the inner surface being bridged at ends thereof byassociated mating faces; and a plurality of spacers extending inwardlyaway from the inner surface and extending longitudinally from a locationadjacent a first end of the elongate in a direction toward a second endof the elongate body, the spacers being resiliently deformable and afirst one of the spacers closest to one of the associated mating faceshas a height greater than second one of the spacers furthest from theone of the associated mating faces, wherein a longitudinal planeassociated with each of the spacers is substantially parallel with alongitudinal plane associated with the other ones of the spacers, thelongitudinal plane associated with each of the spacers being a planebisecting the spacer and extending along a length of the spacer andthrough a top and bottom of the spacer.
 10. A separation duct forencompassing an elongate member, the separation duct comprising: anouter surface, an inner surface and a central cavity; and a plurality ofspacers extending inwardly away from the inner surface at intervalsalong a length of the duct, the spacers extending longitudinally in adirection of a longitudinal axis of the duct, wherein a longitudinalplane associated with each of the spacers is substantially parallel witha longitudinal plane associated with the other ones of the spacers, thelongitudinal plane associated with each of the spacers being a planeextending along a length of the spacer and through a top and bottom ofthe spacer.
 11. A separation duct according to claim 10, wherein thelongitudinal plane associated with each of the spacers bisects thespacer.
 12. A separation duct according to claim 10 wherein the spacershave different heights.
 13. A separation duct according to claim 10,wherein the spacers are resiliently deformable.
 14. A separation ductaccording to claim 10, wherein the spacers have a generally triangularshape.
 15. A separation duct according to claim 10, the duct furthercomprising a second plurality of spacers extending inwardly away fromthe inner surface in opposing facing relationship to the plurality ofspacers at the intervals along a length of the duct, the secondplurality of spacers extending longitudinally in a direction of alongitudinal axis of the duct, wherein a longitudinal plane associatedwith each of the second plurality of spacers is substantially parallelwith a longitudinal plane associated with the other ones of the secondplurality of spacers, the longitudinal plane associated with each of thesecond plurality of spacers being a plane extending along a length ofthe spacer and through a top and bottom of the spacer.
 16. A separationduct according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of spacers and thesecond plurality of spacers are provided at an area of reduced externaldimension of the duct.
 17. A separation duct according to claim 16,wherein a tension band is provided around the duct at the area ofreduced external dimension to compress the plurality of spacers and thesecond plurality of spacers against an elongate member.